460 SPORTS AND GAMES 



completely excluded, except that the jury could count a hit on the head, arm, or hand 

 as valid, if the recipient had effaced the target by adopting an ungainly or irregular 

 position, or, instead of making a parry, covered the target with head, arm or hand. 

 Much of the fencing at Stockholm was open to the charge of being rough and ungainly. 

 The gold medals were won as follows: individual foils, N. Nadi, Italy; individual epee, 

 P. Anspach, Belgium; individual sabre, Fuchs, Hungary. The epee team contest was 

 won by Belgium, with Great Britain secondhand Holland third, the sabre team by 

 Hungary with Austria second and Holland third. 



The Grande Semaine of 1911 was held in Ronen instead -of Paris. France retained the 

 International Cup by beating Belgium (24-18) and Great Britain (26-12). . lathe Ostend 

 week Great Britain beat Holland (15-14), but lost to Belgium (16-11) and France (17-11-). 

 A representative British team for the first time took part in the sabre contest and did 'well, 

 losing to Bohemia, who took the first place : (5~4), Holland (5-3), and Belgium (4-2). No 

 British team could be sent to the Grande Semaine of 1912 on account of the Olympic Games. 

 France beat Belgium for the International Cup (22-18); Baron de Eynde carried off the 

 epee championship, and Lieut. Perrodin the sabre championship. With the epee at Ostend 

 F ranee beat Belgium (16-11) and Great Britain (22-5). With the sabre Belgium defeated 

 F ranee and Italy: and France defeated Italy. M. Gravier, France, was first with the epee: 

 M. Hennet, Belgium, with the sabre. 



: The British amateur foils championship fell in 1911 to E. M. Amphlett, in 1912 to P. G. 

 Doyne, after a tie with G. R. Alexander, R. M. P. Willoughby and P. M. Davson. The 

 amateur 6pee champion of 1911 was J. P. Blake, in 1912 the title fell to R. Montgomerie. 

 W. Hammond, sabre champion of 1911, was replaced in 1912 by Captain C. Van der Byl. 

 Miss G. Daniell won the ladies' championship in 1911 and 1912, after fighting off with Miss 

 J. Johnstone in 1911 and with the Misses C. A. Walker and A. B. Walker in 1912. 



Football. 1 



The Rugby Game. Although no distinct new phase has lately been observable in 

 the manner in which Rugby football is played, the method of attack by means of con- 

 certed runs by half-backs and three quarter-backs becomes yearly more indubitably 

 stereotyped. The play of the forwards is subordinated to this leading idea. Even 

 when the ground and the weather make the passing of the ball extremely difficult, while 

 enhancing the effectiveness of dribbling, the same style of play is generally attempted 

 and often with some success. On the other hand, as the counter moves are better 

 understood, the attack has been varied by the artifice of kicking across the ground, and 

 the forwards get some opportunity of using their skill in dribbling in the scrambling 

 play thus brought about. So much depends on the first possession of the ball in the 

 scrummage, whether for the purpose of heeling or wheeling, that various tricks and 

 manoeuvres have been attempted. By an improvement on the tactics of the famous 

 New Zealand team, the forwards on forming a scrummage sometimes bring up a man 

 suddenly into their front row on the side nearest to the player who is about to put the 

 ballin play. This forward, being unobstructed, is said to gain the " loose head," and 

 is at an advantage in getting the ball with his feet. In order to check this trick, -the 

 International Board has declared that the ball is not fairly in a scrummage until it has 

 passed a player on each side. It follows that the leading row of forwards must contain 

 at least two, if not three players, though no rule exists to this effect; also that the out- 

 side forward who has the first chance of playing the ball may be penalised, if he does so, 

 for preventing the ball from being fairly placed in the scrummage. This consequence, 

 though logical, is not universally accepted. By new legislation penalties have been 

 enacted for wilful knocks-on and throws-forward, and for wilful throws into touch. 



The Rugby game, though exceedingly popular in some districts, has lost ground in the 

 west of England, and even in South Wales, through the rivalry of Association football. Its 

 progress in France, however, has been unchecked. Early 111.1911, a French team for the 

 first time was victorious in an international match, beating Scotland in Paris. French players 

 are remarkable for impetuosity, speed and quickness in starting, which last quality makes 

 them strong in defence. In the same season Wales beat England, Ireland, Scotland and 

 France; Ireland beat England, Scotland and France; England at Twickenham beat Scotland 

 and France. In 1912 all the international matches that took place in the United Kingdom 



1 See also under " United States " below. 



